I can't say I agree your voice is up to snuff, but I sure am glad to hear you've had medical treatment and are getting good coaching. That's the best thing you could have done and I wish you well.

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FYI, in 2004 I was diagnosed with a throat condition probably caused by many years of improper vocalizing. I underwent treatments by an ear/nose/throat specialist for over a year, including some medications to reduce the inflammation and phlegm. I subsequently started working with a voice coach and I continue to take regular sessions with a my current coach, Paul Cosca. I’ll never be a Frank Sinatra or even a Rick Dougherty, but by virtue of the medical treatments and the continued training, focusing primarily on breath control, I do think my voice is back in pretty good shape now.

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Bob - I'm not sure what you intended to say with this, other than you're sorry the lawyers got involved and George and Bill were responsible for your dismissal in 2005. As for who was responsible for your dismissal, please take my words as just being my impression and not any snakiness on my part, but Bob - your voice hasn't been very good for a long, long time, certainly not good enough for the professional level the KT was aiming for and achieving before Mike and Josh took over. I have no opinion as to what George and Bill had to do with your dismissal - I don't know - but you didn't have the voice at the time, and I thought so at the time and was happy that Rick came on board. If Mike is happy with you now, that's his call (unless the Shanes have some quality control language in the agreement and then it's their call).

I don't intend to be snarky or mean-spirited. This is just my honest opinion.

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It’s been awhile since I’ve visited this site and it’s sad for me to read so many nasty posts about the current configuration of The Trio. Some of you folks are relying on rumor and hearsay to form your opinions, and I need to let you know that there’s more to the story. I’m sitting in an airport awaking a connection so I may have to finish this later. I already lost a brilliant version of this due to loss of internet, so I hope I can come close to recreating it. May take two sessions. I may repeat myself from a response I posted to John Bircher below under the thread “The ‘Kingston Trio’ as it tours now.” After posting that I started reading so many more posts that I wanted to respond to, and I’m thinking it might be better just to get it all out at once here.

First of all, re: the dismissal of GBR as a result of this transition, I do think that should have been handled differently. It’s a shame that attorneys got to make a lot of money over that, but in hearing from the Shane side as well as the Marvin side, I have some perspective on why that all happened. I’m sorry for how that must have affected GBR, and I can certainly relate to their feelings about it. My release from The Trio in 2005 at the hands of George and Bill also came as a shock and surprise to me, resulting in months of mental anguish, therapy and prayer. I recovered from it all just fine, but pardon me for having a bit of a “what goes around comes around” attitude about it. George and Rick have moved on with their new group and a high-quality show and I wish them great success.

One last comment before I have to board - I’ll finish this later - but I was always under the impression that George was the heir-apparent to the KT legacy, owing to his long tenure in the group. The decision to pass this on to Reynolds/Marvin surprised all us. But as Josh Fuller has stated, this is Bob Shane’s business to handle as he pleases, and apparently the “family” connection with Josh was compelling for him.

OK, I have to board now, but as Mr. Roadie would say, “more to come...”